Russian textbook in Novosibirsk schools urges students to sacrifice for the nation
A new patriotism textbook distributed to Novosibirsk schools promotes dying for Russia, condemns Western culture and prescribes gender roles.
In Novosibirsk, a city of 1.6 million, schools have received a state-issued textbook on patriotism that glorifies dying for the motherland and labels such sacrifice as a blessing. The book vilifies homosexuality, equates Disney cartoons with pornography, and instructs girls on using their "charms," while describing Europeans as "thieves, murderers and liars." It claims Russia never exploited its many peoples, contrasting this with Western colonial histories.
The material is part of "patriotism lessons" introduced in 2022 and is supplemented by new subjects such as "Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defense." Students say they are monitored for non-patriotic expression, with incidents like reprimands for English-language clothing and assemblies linking the World War II victory to one outlet war in Ukraine.
Why it matters
The textbook shows how Russian authorities are embedding militaristic propaganda in education, shaping youth attitudes toward war and the West.
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